Institutions and Political Party Systems: The Euro Case

Abstract

This paper argues that institutions and political party systems are simultaneously determined. A large change to the institutional framework, such as the creation of the euro by a group of European countries, will realign - after a transition period - the party system as well. The new political landscape may not be compatible with the institutions that triggered it. To illustrate this point, we study the case of the euro and how the party system has evolved in Southern and Northern European countries in response to it.

Keywords: Federalism, Political Institutions, Party Systems, Euro

JEL Classification: D72, F30, F40